Keeping safe

[martin goddard]

Several recent US presidents have avoided military service or opted for a closer to home role.
In March 1939 (80 years ago today) you are about to join the services and help the country in the coming war.
What role would you volunteer for, that is really safe.

My idea would be to be commissioned into the Royal service corps "docks and loading" unit. Could go back to the mess each night and still travel to my club in London at weekends.  Marvellous. Shorncliff.  My post would be UK specific  of course.

[John Watson]

That's fine until you get posted to Singapore. I think I would like to be the officer responsible for commissioning bicycle inner tubes for the Home Guard. A most important position I think and one that carries a lot of kudos!!

[martin goddard]

Yes John, things like inner tubes are not understood well at senior staff levels. Without them, our chaps would be slow on manoeuvre. A noble calling and a good thing for our service men and women. maybe you could employ other RFCM group members to do spot inspections on inflation pressures. Under pressured tyres are less efficient!

i suspect Sean could do some chaplaining services at the Orkneys?

[Sean Clark]

Beat me to it Martin. Chaplaincy has it's benefits.

[mellis1644]

Another risk of that unit is that you may be posted to beach admin and command in a naval landing. In the later stages of WW2 that was not a healthy area to be in as you were first in and last off the beach.

Now security code breaking and/or air photo Interpretation Units were pretty safely based in the UK/US.

[Clay]

We had a circuitous joke whilst I was re-enacting WW1 years ago, about the vaunted indomitable 991st ömlaut typewriter repair battalion.  🤨

[Moggy]

When I was still wearing a Green Suit for a living I was stationed in an Engineer Stores Depot. One of our heated sheds still was full to the brim with Rubber Mule Shoes. Bear in mind that was in 1999. I want the job of monitoring the heating in that shed.

[martin goddard]

Another vital job there. I might volunteer to take a tank around the towns for fundraising events.

[Smiley Miley 66]

One of the guards in the Admiralty, as some of them going under ground. It can be a long way down on some of them below floors.
Miles

[Moggy]

That would be OK except if it floods!

[Sean Clark]

I think I would have chosen to be Rawlinson's Staff Officer on the 1st July 1916....